Ships Collide Where Bayport and Houston Channels Meet

The US Coast Guard reports that it is responding to a collision between a container ship and chemical tanker at the point where the Houston ship channel and the Bayport Ship Channel meet.

At 9:47 a.m. Coast Guard sector Houston-Galveston received a report that the 782-foot container ship, MSC NEDERLAND, had collided with the 799-foot chemical tanker, ELKA APOLLON.

Three containers from the NEDERLAND have fallen onto the deck of the ELKA APOLLON. Some hydraulic fluid from one of the containers containing tractor equipment is leaking onto the deck of the tanker.

No injuries have been reported and the shipping channels remain open. The vessels owners/operators are working on a salvage plan to return the vessels to operation.
The ELKA APOLLON is a Greek flagged chemical/oil products tanker owned by Lydia Investments and operated by European Product Carriers. The NEDERLAND is a Panama flagged container ship owned by Messina Shipping Ltd. And operated by MSC Mediterranean Shipping Co.

The Coast Guard will be investigating the incident to determine the cause of the collision.

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Photos courtesy of USCG